GAME REPORT

Taurasi On Song As Gala Dispatch UMMC

Galatasaray were recently named as hosts of the first-ever EuroLeague Women Final Eight.

They'll be among the favorites to win it if their early-season form is anything to go by because on Wednesday in Istanbul, Ceyhun Yildizoglu's team won for the third time in as many games in an 84-65 Group A demolition of UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Maria Stepanova twice gave UMMC leads of seven points midway through the second quarter but the visitors weren't able to press home the advantage.

After the Russian center made it 33-26, the wheels came off.

Cappie Pondexter fouled Tina Charles and the Gala center sank both attempts from the line.

Turkey national team guard Isil Alben then sank two free-throws before Diana Taurasi hit a three to knot the contest at 33-33.

Taurasi kept the pressure on by pouring in the next seven points in the game for a 40-33 Galatasaray advantage.

The home side was in front to stay.

UMMC cut the gap to five with a Gruda jumper four minutes into the second half but the Istanbul team had too much on the night and opened up a 59-46 lead with 10 minutes to go.

Baskets by Ivanka Matic and Taurasi at the beginning of the fourth quarter stretched the advantage to 17 and UMMC ran of out of steam.

Taurasi's game-tying three-ball in the second quarter that sparked her own 10-0 run was the only shot to go in from long range for Gala.

They finished one of 11, compared to five of 13 for UMMC.

A big difference was Gala's ability to get to the free-throw line, where they sank 17 of 20.

UMMC made four of six attempts at the charity stripe.

Taurasi had a game-high 27 points and Charles finished with 24. Charles also led all players with 14 rebounds.

Gruda's 17 points led UMMC, who fell to 2-1 in Group A.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Galatasaray Medical Park vs. UMMC Ekaterinburg

UMMC Ekaterinburg center Yelena Leuchanka:

"Of course you can always play better. We didn't get the job done on defense and [especially] on Diana [Taurasi]. I'm glad [this kind of] things happen in the beginning of the season so we have a lot of work to do."

UMMC Ekaterinburg Head Coach Algirdas Paulauskas:

"This wasn't our game, so we lost. We had some injured players. Candace Parker played today but maybe we should have played only our healthy players. It was a great game for Galatasaray and I just want to congratulate them."

Galatasaray Medical Park point guard Isil Alben:

"We knew that Ekaterinburg is a really great team, they have great players. We worked really good on our defense and their offenses. I think they fought on the court but we played together as a team. We are so happy but it's just the beginning, we have to stay focused and play better."

Galatasaray Medical Park Head Coach Ceyhun Yildizoglu:

"At the beginning we couldn't play good. But in the second half we came back, we played our basketball, defensively and offensively. Our point guard Isil [Alben] played really good today and all players fought hard. We played together, we played smart. We won of course and we are very happy. Now we will prepare for the next game. I want to congratulate my players and also Ekaterinburg."